Earlier this month, we took advantage of the Gift with Purchase at the BECCA counter during Neiman Marcus Beauty Week.

The great thing about a Gift with Purchase is the opportunity to try a product that you otherwise would not. Like this BECCA Loose Shimmer Powder in Odette, a sandy-gold shimmer for fair to medium complexions.

BECCA Loose Shimmer Powder offers the finest particles of shimmer to deflect light and illuminate the skin giving us a subtle glow that’s neither sparkly nor shiny.

Included in our gift was also the BECCA Bronzer/Shimmer Fan Brush which has the incredible ability to deposit the perfect amount of shimmer on our cheekbones.

We are in love with this brush. LOVE.

BECCA Loose Shimmer Powder Odette, $20
BECCA Bronzer/Shimmer Fan Brush, $35

Need some weekend reading suggestions? Check out the awesome beauty websites in the Beauty Blog Network:

Ageless in Los Angeles Gray Hair- No Longer Something to Hide?

Beautiful Makeup Search Beautiful Makeup Search wonders about Smashbox’s new O-Glow.

Beauty Hatchery As spring approaches, Beauty Hatchery offers tips to tackle perspiration frustration

Beauty and Fashion Tech Product Review: DHC Skin Care: Part I

Canadian Beauty Day 1 of L’Oreal Fashion Week

Let’s talk about beauty and health Drink soup and lose weight

Lipstick, Powder ‘n Paint Recapture Youthful Radiance with Olay’s Latest Body Wash

Pretty by Nature Pretty by Nature helps you practice a healthy nail ritual.

Spa Blah Blah Boy Tested and Spa Girl Approved: LUSH Fresh Face Masks

The Beauty Newsletter Elke attends the Max Factor Fashion Show!

Enjoy!

There’s nothing like getting 329 spam comments to start the weekend off with an bang. (And this is before we’ve even finished our first soy latte!)

This week the sun has been shining and it’s feeling more and more like spring here in Northern Nevada, which means we need to take that extra step to protect our skin from the sun’s harmful rays. We used to think that foundation or moisturizer with an SPF was enough, but really it’s not. (However, they do give us extra protection, so definitely use them when you can).

For complete broad spectrum sun protection, there’s nothing that compares to La Roche-Posay Anthelios SX. Using a revolutionary formula containing Mexoryl SX and Parsol 1789, Anthelios SX provides the highest daily photo-stable UVA protection available in the US.

Anthelios SX is a light moisturizer with a non-greasy texture that’s fragrance free and dermatologist-tested. It does not smell like sunscreen, look like sunscreen, or make our face feel like a greased-up sticky mess, as most sunscreens do.

We got ours at our dermatologist’s office for $29. It’s also available to purchase on the La Roche-Posay site.

Seriously, girls. Don’t leave home without it.

Chanel’s summer collection offers subtle nudes and golden bronzes with the warm luminous glow of an island sunset.

Sounds pretty, no?

How about this: LIP AND EYE PALETTE!

Contraste Lumière Multi-Palette Lips and Eyes has two powder eyeshadows in Golden Peach and Warm Bronze and four lip shades in warm pinks and corals making this season’s island-lover look easily accessible in one sleek compact.

And guess what else? Two new shades of Glossimer in Sundress (peachy pink) and Sarong (delicate golden mauve).

We’re on a business trip and don’t have time to give you ALL the details right now, but check back later tonight for the entire collection!

Update: Now that we’re at the airport, waiting for our flight back home, we realize that the two Glossimer shades above are not new, but repromotes. Gah. Sorry!

Update #2 (Wed 3/14): Sorry friends, it was a long day yesterday. Sundress and Sarong really are new Glossimer shades, it’s just that they will only be available in the US. So much for being on top of our game, huh?

In addition to the two new Glossimer colors, Chanel is also repromoting Coral Reef, Summer Plum and Seashell with this collection.

Here’s what else they have in store for us:

• Quadra Eyeshadow in Shimmering Dunes (pearled pinks and browns)
• Ombre Essentielle Soft Touch Eyeshadow in Island (peach pink) and Sand (soft brown)
• Ombre D’eau Fluid Iridescent Eyeshadow in Coast (gold) and Source (beige- *repromote)
• Nail Color in Heatwave (coral- US only) and Orange Blossom (peachy pink- *repromote)
• Joues Contraste in Horizon (coral) and Nude (soft rose)
• Tinted Bronzing Gel in Bronze
• Rouge Allure Luminous Satin Lip Color in Flirt (rose- US only) and Darling (soft pink)
• Aqualumiere Sheer Color Lipshine in Montego (rose) and Jamaica (peach)
• Brilliant Lumiere Fluorescent in Mango Fluo (mango) and Pink Fluo (pink)

Word on the street is that this collection is already available in some areas, but the official release date is April 2007.

Now we’re off to board our plane and read Males, Nails and Sample Sales by Stephanie Pearson. Bye!